This week, Catholics honor the faithfulness of early Christians. On Sunday, June 24, we celebrate the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, who ultimately lost his life because of his outspoken witness (and Herod’s jealousy). On Saturday, June 30, Catholics remember the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church, which you can learn more about in this short video. At first glance, stories of people martyred for the faith can seem unrelatable to students. However, these stories provide an opportunity to tie your catechesis to contemporary examples of Christians around the world who are persecuted for their faith.
Image credit: Corinne Simon/CIRIC